A surreal, trompe-l'oeil wonder! What is the visual trick in each picture, and how is it accomplished? Looking for the seam between the shifting image...moreA surreal, trompe-l'oeil wonder! What is the visual trick in each picture, and how is it accomplished? Looking for the seam between the shifting images will make your head spin. Give to fans of optical illusion, Escher, Magic Eye, Eye Spy, Chris Van Allsburg, etc. (less)
I love this book!! The fable is simple enough, but the illustrations are truly unique, a mix of line drawing and graphical elements that look both zin...moreI love this book!! The fable is simple enough, but the illustrations are truly unique, a mix of line drawing and graphical elements that look both zine-influenced and old-fashioned at the same time. Would almost be a black-and-white book, if not for the splashes of gold (unusual).(less)
How refreshing to find a friendship book where friends' actions aren't always the cure-all needed to cheer you up: sometimes it's friends leaving you...moreHow refreshing to find a friendship book where friends' actions aren't always the cure-all needed to cheer you up: sometimes it's friends leaving you alone to weather your own storms, then being there for you afterward. Deep stuff for a picture book, yet the watercolors are wholly sunny and charming. How have I not read any Toot and Puddle books before? I love when animals have their own little lives out in the woods. Maybe they know Winnie-the-Pooh. (less)
Clever book!! Like Sarah said, "This book is very meta."
"When the book was closed, it was night in the book, and the family slept." If you've ever th...moreClever book!! Like Sarah said, "This book is very meta."
"When the book was closed, it was night in the book, and the family slept." If you've ever thought characters come to life by being read, this is a picture book for you! The whole book is illustrated as if the reader is peering down at dolls in a dollhouse, and the characters even break the fourth wall and look up to address you! The little girl is in search of her story, and journeys through several genres to find it.
Would be interesting paired with Wiesner's Three Pigs -- same sort of concept. That would be an interesting booklist -- books where the characters *know* they are in a book, and fight to control their destiny, addressing the reader directly and sometimes even jumping from page to page!(less)
Wow!! I can't believe how much I liked this book -- a baseball book! Nothing wrong with baseball -- I just didn't expect to be this enthralled. Of cou...moreWow!! I can't believe how much I liked this book -- a baseball book! Nothing wrong with baseball -- I just didn't expect to be this enthralled. Of course, it's the cover of this picture book bio that grabs passersby -- a lenticular moving image that shows the full range of motion of one of Koufax's famous left-handed pitches. But the inside illustrations, complete with shiny gold (gold!) are also superb. They are graceful, expressive, and very layered and textured while retaining a simplicity of design that you don't always see with multimedia work. They are never too busy.
I put this on my storytelling shelf, because the whole thing reads like an old guy telling a story on the front stoop, from the title to the present-tense narration ("In 1960, he goes up to the general manager, 'Buzzie' Bavasi, and says, 'Buzzie, trade me -- or let me pitch.'") I'd love to hear this on audio. I also like the author's friendly tone with little notes like "for the record" and "about the cover." I liked the reality that Koufax spent a lot of time doing pretty badly in the major leagues, and even quit once, before he hit his stride -- and even then, he retired before he lost the use of his arm. I didn't know that the L.A. Dodgers used to be the "Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers"! Includes a glossary of baseball terms.
Favorite quotes:
"'Hitting a Koufax fastball,' Willie said, 'was like tryin' to drink coffee with a fork.'"
"Who was Sandy Koufax? Sandy Koufax was a guy who finally relaxed enough to let his body do the one thing it was put on earth to do. And what a thing of beauty that was."
[author's note:] "Baseball statistics have always been and always will be interpreted differently by different fans and scholars. Often, several fans will use the same set of statistics to come up with entirely different top-ten lists. This is a very subjective and sentimental process, not an exact science. And the arguments that inevitably arise are as much a part of the baseball tradition as peanuts and Cracker Jack."
Just as gorgeous as Jenn said! This is a sumptuous oversize book, with thick paper, bright colors, and full-page paintings featuring animals (Yankee D...moreJust as gorgeous as Jenn said! This is a sumptuous oversize book, with thick paper, bright colors, and full-page paintings featuring animals (Yankee Doodle is a chipmunk!) and children of various ethnicities. Definitely warrants further study, especially as Scott Gustafson lists influences such as N.C. Wyeth, Arthur Rackham, Norman Rockwell, and Maxfield Parrish (favorites of mine, too!). (less)
Okay, this book gave me tears in my eyes -- twice. Both the detailed watercolor illustrations and the rhythmic, begs-to-be-said-out-loud text give an...moreOkay, this book gave me tears in my eyes -- twice. Both the detailed watercolor illustrations and the rhythmic, begs-to-be-said-out-loud text give an enormous sense of scale to the event of the moon landing. Plus, you find out how astronauts go to the bathroom, and how you can't see stars from the moon's surface (it's too bright). Great book!!!(less)
Totally gorgeous illustrations. I wanted city bunny and park bunny to find a way to be together forever, but I guess visiting each other's world is a...moreTotally gorgeous illustrations. I wanted city bunny and park bunny to find a way to be together forever, but I guess visiting each other's world is a good compromise. I'm glad city bunny didn't give up her favorite things for love!(less)
Love the illustrations in this story of a boy who cultivates an urban garden. Great use of panels, wordless spreads, and some traditional layouts as w...moreLove the illustrations in this story of a boy who cultivates an urban garden. Great use of panels, wordless spreads, and some traditional layouts as well. (less)
Yesssss! Finally! This sequel was worth the wait -- more incredible full-color artwork and page-turning storytelling from Kazu Kibuishi. The double-pa...moreYesssss! Finally! This sequel was worth the wait -- more incredible full-color artwork and page-turning storytelling from Kazu Kibuishi. The double-page spreads which set each new scene are jaw-dropping and remain right up there with the best layouts from Miyazaki, Jeff Smith's Bone, and even Myst (the computer game!). Even some of the smallest panels have innovative compositions that do a great job depicting transitions and action scenes. Basically, I wish this book was bigger, so I could drool over it more. :)
In this book, Emily and Navin find out that the Elves are a very real threat to the land of Alledia. They just want to make their mom well and get home in one piece, but Emily's possession of the Amulet has granted her the title of Stonekeeper, and along with it, the power, responsibility, prophecy, and curse that accompanies it. Emily's ongoing struggle to quell the temptations presented to her by the stone will ring true with any reader who has battled the pressure to change and take the easy way out, even if it means betraying your friends or your ideals.
Robots that make pancakes, a house that walks, talking trees, a fox warrior, and glowing fruit are all images that remain in my head. When will the next one be out?!?
Stunning illustrations -- painted paper dolls photographed in handmade sets. It's really the lighting that completes their fantasticness. I love the u...moreStunning illustrations -- painted paper dolls photographed in handmade sets. It's really the lighting that completes their fantasticness. I love the upstairs/downstairs world in this expansion upon the Aesop story -- the contrast is even shown via different fonts, as poor Mouse is made to make do with the basement world below the spoiled cats. Great book for kids who like fables, seek-and-find books, or anything frilly and detailed. Look closely for the applicable Aesop morals on the back, and check out the book's web site for more tie-ins, especially the "making-of" info on the blog: http://www.butwhowillbellthecats.blog...(less)
Emily Gravett is fast becoming one of my favorite picture book creators. It's hard to say what I like better about this book: the velvety black backgr...moreEmily Gravett is fast becoming one of my favorite picture book creators. It's hard to say what I like better about this book: the velvety black background, the gold foil stars, the lovelorn frog, the mix-and-match pages, the play on "spelling," or the surprise ending. (less)
Bright and bold, Lucy Cousins (of Maisy fame) retells eight of her favorite fairy tales, and not the Disneyfied versions, either. Heads are chopped, c...moreBright and bold, Lucy Cousins (of Maisy fame) retells eight of her favorite fairy tales, and not the Disneyfied versions, either. Heads are chopped, children are gobbled, and Turkey Lurkey most definitely gets eaten. Delicious shivers! I can't even recall how I first heard fairy tales as a child, but these are so simple and true to the story that I almost found myself whispering along. There are no extra words, but the pacing and the cumulative plots are perfect. So is the extra-large format.
Artistically, I love how much expression Lucy Cousins is able to give her simple, childlike paintings. The three bears' faces are priceless. Every animal wears cute clothes that look like they came out of a dress-up box. They're painted in flat profile, like Egyptian figures (Tomie de Paola does this sometimes), and they have a fresh, unedited quality, like Maira Kalman's work, or Quentin Blake's. I think much of this is due to the black outlines (see also Betsy Lewin and Georg Hallensleben).
Art nerdiness aside, I would love to give or receive this book as a gift. As a child, I never minded the violence. I cooked and ate a lot of imaginary enemies in my games, and I bet kids still do. Great book!(less)
This might be my new favorite "winter's coming" book. The loose, sketchy illustrations are spot-on. Meschenmoser makes great use of wordless spreads a...moreThis might be my new favorite "winter's coming" book. The loose, sketchy illustrations are spot-on. Meschenmoser makes great use of wordless spreads and comics-like sequences. He draws the most expressive squirrel I've ever seen. What *would* snow look like if you were trying to recognize it, but had only heard the description "white and wet and cold and soft"?
Look for a fun visual joke on the final endpapers. (less)
Another brilliant graphic-novel memoir joins the canon. Be ready to have this one on your mind for a while. What David Small does with facial expressi...moreAnother brilliant graphic-novel memoir joins the canon. Be ready to have this one on your mind for a while. What David Small does with facial expressions and eyes is hard to forget.
Favorite quotes:
"Art became my home. Not only did it give me back my voice, but art has given me everything I have wanted or needed since."
"My special thanks to Dr. Harold Davidson for pulling me to my feet and placing me on the road to the examined life." (less)
I think Loren Long has succeeded in his quest to make "an original book of his own that children might take to heart as certainly as he took the books...moreI think Loren Long has succeeded in his quest to make "an original book of his own that children might take to heart as certainly as he took the books of his childhood." This book has a soft, classic feel, with real suspense and a feel-good ending. It would make a great gift!(less)
"The illustrations in this book were created by combining handmade painterly textures with digitally generated layers, which were then compiled in Ado...more"The illustrations in this book were created by combining handmade painterly textures with digitally generated layers, which were then compiled in Adobe Photoshop."
However the artwork was done, the results are lovely and unusual in this simple book. It looks like what would happen if you took the spirit of doodles and made them into something really layered and intricate. My favorite page is the giraffe!(less)
So glad Jenn posted this book -- I adore it! The parallel stories of a mouse and girl who live in the same house (and the stories of their daughters d...moreSo glad Jenn posted this book -- I adore it! The parallel stories of a mouse and girl who live in the same house (and the stories of their daughters doing the same) are told in a visually inventive variety of ways, from panels to tiny character pictures to double-page spreads. With tiny details, including mouse furnishings made from human objects, this book is a dream for anyone who likes dollhouses or The Borrowers. There is a glowing golden light that suffuses most of these pictures. (less)
Awesome book on self-esteem and identity. A person can be many things, and they are all worthy of pride and a fist-bump in the mirror! I'd love to hea...moreAwesome book on self-esteem and identity. A person can be many things, and they are all worthy of pride and a fist-bump in the mirror! I'd love to hear the poetry read out loud, and Christopher Myers' collages just get better and better. If reading this book one-on-one, you could spend time identifying the scenes in the photo pieces (I believe the cover photo is from a microscope!). (less)
I liked this book for its incredible detail (Where's Waldo fans might like it); because no one does lighting like Roberto Innocenti (the cover image i...moreI liked this book for its incredible detail (Where's Waldo fans might like it); because no one does lighting like Roberto Innocenti (the cover image is the best); and because I love the idea of a house having feelings and preferring to be full of life ("I am a House but I am home to none" is a particularly sad line). J. Patrick Lewis turns a good phrase, as always, and this would be a good book to illustrate seasons changing and generations passing. Yet I'm not sure who the intended audience is. We currently have it as a teen poetry book, but I'm not sure it will be appreciated there...(less)
This would be a great gift book for a kid wondering where he fits in the world...or a kid who likes to group like objects together (maybe...moreDelightful!!
This would be a great gift book for a kid wondering where he fits in the world...or a kid who likes to group like objects together (maybe a future librarian!). The illustrations are not like any I've really seen, which is saying something. The rhyme is also very good. You'll like this book if you've ever made inanimate objects into families or couples.
"A saucer and cup can be brother and sister A comb and a brush can be husband and wife A plate and a bowl can be missus and mister And so can the spoon or the fork or the knife" (less)
A standout picture book biography. Annette Kellerman, who wore leg braces in childhood, began swimming to gain strength, and went on to become a champ...moreA standout picture book biography. Annette Kellerman, who wore leg braces in childhood, began swimming to gain strength, and went on to become a champion swimmer, risk-taker, and fashion rebel. She championed exercise when women were supposed to be immobile, and wore "indecent" swimsuits because they allowed her to move. Great book for athletics, girl power, overcoming adversity, fashion, and phenomenal colorful illustrations. (less)
I almost want to make a bookshelf called "great lighting," because this book's incredible illustrations have a marvelous sense of light. Check out an...moreI almost want to make a bookshelf called "great lighting," because this book's incredible illustrations have a marvelous sense of light. Check out an animation of a painting from sketch to final product on William Low's web site:
Like Tamara said, both the style and the subject matter is reminiscent of The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I had no idea that the original Pennsylvania Station was destroyed, but thanks to this book, I now feel that I mourn it a little. (less)
Okay, I didn't cry until the dedications page at the end. This unusual September 11 story is told by storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy (who "came to the U...moreOkay, I didn't cry until the dedications page at the end. This unusual September 11 story is told by storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy (who "came to the United States as a refugee and like most immigrants sees the world from multiple perspectives"), illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez (whose use of the color red is stunning, and whose characters lock eyes with yours), and conceived by Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah (who told the story of September 11 to his Maasai tribe, prompting them to wonder what they could do to help).
"Because there is no nation so powerful it cannot be wounded, nor a people so small they cannot offer mighty comfort." (less)
Different colors provide different sensory experiences depending on the season in this gorgeous picture book of poetry. There's nothing I didn't like...moreDifferent colors provide different sensory experiences depending on the season in this gorgeous picture book of poetry. There's nothing I didn't like about this book. The poems are superb and simple, and the illustrations nicely textured. I also like the design: how the poems are placed with the pictures. Wonderful all around. (less)
I don't actually plan to read this, but we have a poster of one of Wyeth's illustrations, and it's got some great lighting. So I'd like to look at the...moreI don't actually plan to read this, but we have a poster of one of Wyeth's illustrations, and it's got some great lighting. So I'd like to look at the rest of the paintings. (less)
Yup, I picked this up because it has a blue glitter cover. The text is simple but not great; it's the nearly monochromatic, graphic-design look of the...moreYup, I picked this up because it has a blue glitter cover. The text is simple but not great; it's the nearly monochromatic, graphic-design look of the illustrations that stands out. Good lap book for parents, or baby shower gift.(less)
The version we have of this is in Spanish with a different cover, one that really made me want to read this picture book. Its soft oil paintings have...moreThe version we have of this is in Spanish with a different cover, one that really made me want to read this picture book. Its soft oil paintings have a really nice sense of color and light (I love how Miki's lips are a bright red). I'm still not sure what the story is about, but it's got a penguin, a narwhal, and a scuba-diving polar bear. (less)
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